SBWZ - Fortaleza

General data

Useful Information

Map

Click a volume to see its limits and class. Use the layer control to change the base map and toggle the volumes.

The Visual corridors (REA) layer shows the 8 REAs of AIC N 49/25 and the gates (yellow). Solid magenta line: class C or D, with the APP; dashed blue: class G. Click a segment to see the tracks, altitudes and contact. Details in Visual corridors (REA).

Volumes

ATC Units

Top-down coverage

Read from bottom to top: when a position is offline, the airspace falls to the next online position above.

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    p1["SBRE_N_CTR"]:::ctr
    p2["SBWZ_APP"]:::app
    p3["SBFZ_TWR"]:::twr
    a0(["Fortaleza TMA"]):::esp --> p2
    a1(["Fortaleza CTR"]):::esp --> p3
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    p1 --> g0
    p2 --> p1
    p3 --> p2
    classDef esp stroke-dasharray:4 3
    classDef twr stroke:#2e9e5b,stroke-width:2px
    classDef app stroke:#2f7fd1,stroke-width:2px
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VFR circulation

TMA layers and who handles VFR

• Mandatory REAs: all VFR traffic in the TMA to or from the Fortaleza aerodromes must use the REAs, unless the APP clears otherwise or in an emergency. Traffic and weather permitting, the APP or the Tower may clear the flight off them.
• Corridor class: BARRA and PICI (west and northwest of SBFZ) are class C; CANINDÉ, FEIJÓ and HORIZONTE (southwest and south) are class D, all with the APP; BEACH PARK, CATULEVE and CAPONGA (southeast and coast) are class G, with coordination on FCA 123.450 and only recommended.
• In the real world, Fortaleza APP handles VFR on 133.000, 134.550 or 120.500.
• In the package, VFR traffic calls SBWZ_APP (133.000); for the SBFZ circuit, SBFZ_TWR (129.000). Pilots call the online position, not the real-world frequency. Without it, the next position in the coverage takes over. Air-to-air coordination goes on UNICOM 122.800.

General VFR rules

• A mode A/C or S transponder is mandatory; landing or taxi lights on are recommended.
• Right of the centreline: pilots fly to the right of the corridor centreline.
• Width: 3 NM (1.5 NM either side), gates included.
• Altitudes: in controlled areas the maximum and minimum must be obeyed; the minimum gives at least 500 ft over the terrain. Altitude changes are made within the segment's limits, between the previous and next points, under the pilot's responsibility and in VMC. The APP may assign another altitude on controlled segments.
• QNH from the APP, the Tower or the SBFZ ATIS.
• Flight plan: the REA goes in item 18. Traffic for SBFZ states the REA on first contact with the APP, even if it is in the flight plan.
• Crossing the TMA: along the REA segments until leaving the CTR or, exceptionally, on a direct track cleared by the APP.
• Holding: the APP may hold traffic over REA points to space out entries into the TMA and CTR.
• Helicopters may use the REAs and, with the APP, land elsewhere in the CTR, stating the REAs to the destination.
• IMC: turn back and land at the departure aerodrome or the nearest one, ask for special VFR, change to IFR, or ask to leave the REA.

Visual corridors (REA)

The 8 REAs of the TMA, all two-way. Altitudes in feet (QNH), as maximum / minimum; a single altitude applies to both. Tracks are given as outbound / return.

What each corridor does:

• BARRA is the SBFZ arrival and departure from the northwest: from the PECÉM gate (Pecém port) via CUMBUCO to the BARRA gate (Barra do Ceará bridge), over the sea, along the coastline. At the BARRA gate, the pilot calls the Tower to join the circuit. To continue on PICI, descend to be at 1000 ft at CUMBUCO.
• PICI links CUMBUCO to TREVO VIÁRIO (the Quarto Anel Viário junction with the CE-060), at 1000 ft. To join it from BARRA, or continue on it from CANINDÉ or FEIJÓ, the pilot asks the APP to cross the RWY 13 approach axis.
• CANINDÉ comes from the BOISA gate (Boisa farm), to the southwest, to TREVO VIÁRIO, reaching it at 1000 ft.
• FEIJÓ links TREVO VIÁRIO to FÁBRICA FORTALEZA (the M. Dias Branco aerodrome, SJDS), at 1000 ft.
• HORIZONTE comes from the ESTÁDIO DOMINGÃO gate, to the south, to FÁBRICA FORTALEZA; there the pilot is at 2000 ft maximum to continue on CATULEVE, or at 1000 ft to continue on BEACH PARK or FEIJÓ.
• BEACH PARK links FÁBRICA FORTALEZA to the BEACH PARK gate, at 1000 ft. CATULEVE links FÁBRICA FORTALEZA to IGUAPE, serving the M. Dias Branco and Catuleve aerodromes.
• CAPONGA is the southeast coast: from the BEACH PARK gate via IGUAPE to the CAPONGA gate. Traffic heading for BEACH PARK reaches it at 1000 ft.
• Crossing the RWY 13 extended centreline: on the BEACH PARK and CAPONGA REAs, the pilot stays over the sea at the BEACH PARK gate and waits for APP clearance.

Gates

The gates are the entry to and exit from the Fortaleza CTR, unless the APP clears otherwise:

Other rules

• Departures from aerodromes without an ATS unit under the TMA file a flight plan with the AIS office, call the APP before taxi and report the actual departure time.
• Departures from aerodromes or heliports inside the CTR call first, on the FCA or the APP, for instructions.
• With a Z plan, wait for the APP clearance to change flight rules, keeping to the corridor altitudes.
• On busy dates, the class of any REA may change from G to C by NOTAM.

Phraseology

On contact, the pilot gives registration, REA, position, altitude and direction². Brazilian VFR traffic usually calls in Portuguese:

Controle Fortaleza, PR-GHF, REA CAPONGA, vertical da Prainha, 1000 pés, proa BEACH PARK.

Controle Fortaleza, PR-GHF, REA BARRA, posição CUMBUCO, 1000 pés, solicita REA PICI.

Remarks

• The TMA is class A between FL145 and FL195 and class C between 3500 FT and FL145.
• Volumes and map follow AIP AMDT AIRAC 2612A1 (26 NOV 2026): the CTR goes up to 3500 FT AMSL.

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